The harsh, demanding squawk of the Western Scrub-Jay is a familiar sound in the coastal sage scrub along Rios trail. Like other members of the crow family, Western Scrub-Jays are curious and assertive. They're also clever: some jays watch other birds hiding food, and then pilfer the cache. When these same birds go to hide their own acorns, they check to make sure that no other jays are watching.